Alien: Earth
Taking place two years before the events of Alien, FX series Alien: Earth sees a Wayland-Yutani research ship crash land into the middle of a bustling city. Wendy (a human-synthetic hybrid played by Sydney Chandler) investigates the crash site alongside a group of soldiers and other hybrids. There, they discover the horrific remains of the ill-fated crew alongside the alien creatures responsible for the carnage, which includes a Xenomorph. It’s therefore up to them to find a way to stop the creatures before they can wreak havoc on the population.
By swapping the usual isolated settings of far-off planets and abandoned space stations for Earth, showrunner Noah Hawley (Fargo) attempts something different for this prequel. Although there are plenty of moments that draw inspiration from Alien and Aliens, with the show’s opening being a direct homage to the start of the 1979 classic, this small screen outing falls just short of reaching the heights of its cinematic predecessors. However, an enticing plot and creative use of its titular monster make this a solid entry into the Alien universe.
The opening episodes don’t waste much time getting to the action. After some initial exposition that introduces viewers to Wendy, her android handler (Timothy Olyphant) and the trillionaire genius who created her (Samuel Blenkin), it’s not long before viewers watch as soldiers come face-to-face with the Xenomorph. Although some may be disappointed in the lack of build-up to the iconic creature’s reveal, the punchy violence that often accompanies its appearances serve as a strong reminder of why it’s such a threat. Moreover, Hawley cleverly hides the alien in plain sight during these initial encounters. It only reveals itself moments before it strikes, making for some effectively tense moments.
Being a series, Alien: Earth has a lot more time to dig into its plot and themes. While jumping between its storylines can occasionally interrupt the flow of the opening episodes, especially whenever the action shifts away from the Xenomorph, this slower-burn approach teases out larger questions about what’s really going on that will keep viewers eager to discover the answers.
By bringing the Xenomorph to Earth while borrowing from the formulas of Alien and Aliens, Hawley has created a refreshing addition to the franchise with this prequel series. It may not be as impactful as its inspirations, but there’s nevertheless a solid Alien story here.
Andrew Murray
Alien: Earth is released on Disney+ on 13th August 2025.
Watch the trailer for Alien: Earth here:
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